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Tuesday 22 November 2022
KC Man Sentenced for Meth TraffickingRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for possessing methamphetamine to distribute.
Scott D. Walker, 52, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 11 years and three months in federal prison without parole.
On March 1, 2022, Walker pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
On Aug. 7, 2020, Independence, Mo., police officers and U.S. Marshals Service arrested Walker at an Independence residence on a warrant for violating his supervised release. Walker was previously convicted in federal court in the District of Kansas for possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and for possessing firearms and ammunition in relation to a drug-trafficking crime, for which he was sentenced to 13 years and four months in federal prison without parole. Walker was released from incarceration on July 19, 2019, and he was serving a five-year sentence of supervised release at the time of his arrest in this case.
Walker was taken into custody without incident and officers searched his backpack, which contained approximately 196 grams of methamphetamine, a Rohm .22 short caliber revolver, and $5,520 in cash.
Walker also admitted that approximately 84 grams of methamphetamine and cash recovered from an earlier incident at another residence belonged to him. Walker admitted to distributing large quantities of methamphetamine.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jess E. Michaelsen. It was investigated by the Independence, Mo., Police Department.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Justice Department, FTC and State of Wisconsin File Complaint to Stop Deceptive Sales Practices of Timeshare Exit Services Aimed at Elderly ConsumersRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice, together with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the State of Wisconsin, today announced a civil enforcement action against 16 defendants for allegedly using deceptive sales practices nationally to sell timeshare “exit services” to senior citizens.
The defendants include five individuals – Christopher Carroll, George Reed, LouAnn Reed, Scott Jackson and Eduardo Balderas – and 11 related companies and trusts they run and operate – Consumer Law Protection LLC, Consumer Rights Council, Premier Reservations Group LLC, Resort Transfer Group LLC, Square One Development Group Inc., Square One Group LLC, Timeshare Help Source LLC, Farmington Allegiance LLC, Mainline Partners LLC, the Jake and Avery Irrevocable Trust dated Sept. 11, 2019, and the Maggie and Lucy Irrevocable Trust dated Sept. 11, 2019.
According to a complaint filed in the Eastern District of Missouri, the defendants promised to assist consumers in exiting their timeshare contracts in exchange for large fees, but usually failed to deliver on their promises. The complaint alleges that the defendants, at high-pressure sales presentations at hotels and restaurants in multiple states, convinced consumers to sign up for timeshare exit services by falsely claiming that consumers could not exit timeshare contracts on their own, that the defendants were affiliated with legitimate companies, and that the consumers’ heirs would be stuck with large fees unless they signed defendants’ contracts. The complaint further alleges that the defendants failed to notify consumers of their rights under federal and state law to cancel their contracts with defendants within three business days. According to the complaint, the defendants deceived consumers – who were mostly seniors – into paying more than $90 million to the defendant companies for services that were not delivered. The complaint states that, through these actions, the defendants violated the FTC Act, which prohibits unfair and deceptive conduct, the FTC’s rule concerning cooling-off period for sales made at home or other locations, which requires disclosures about the right to cancel purchases, and certain Wisconsin state laws concerning fraudulent misrepresentations and direct marketing.
The complaint seeks monetary relief, civil penalties and injunctive relief to stop defendants from continuing to make deceptive claims in connection with the sale of timeshare exit services. The defendants’ timeshare exit services are also the subject of lawsuits filed by the Alaska and Missouri Attorneys General in June 2022.
This matter is being handled by Trial Attorneys Ellen Bowden McIntyre and Amy Kaplan and Assistant Director Lisa K. Hsiao of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Samantha Denny and William Hodor of the FTC. Lewis W. Beilin represents the State of Wisconsin.
For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at https://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Information about the Department of Justice’s Elder Fraud Initiative is available at www.justice.gov/elderjustice. For more information about the FTC, visit its website at https://www.FTC.gov.
Jacksonville Man Indicted on Aggravated Identity Theft and Fraud Charges Involving Identification DocumentsRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return by a grand jury of an indictment charging Jerry Cintron Colon (42, Jacksonville) with aggravated identity theft, false representation of a Social Security number (SSN), and fraud involving identification documents. If convicted, Colon faces up to 15 years in federal prison for the fraud count, and up to 5 years’ imprisonment on the false SSN representation count, and a consecutive mandatory minimum penalty of 2 years’ imprisonment for the aggravated identity theft count. Colon was arrested and made his initial appearance in federal court on November 21, 2022, and was released on bond.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.
Jury Convicts Southern Illinois Man of Online Sextortion Scheme Targeting Teen Girls on FacebookRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – On Friday, November 18, 2022, a federal jury found Michael A. Ferris, 44, of
Mill Shoals, Illinois, guilty of twenty-five felony counts of extortion, cyberstalking, and
production, distribution, and possession of child pornography involving nine minor victims.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from at least March 2020 until
November 2020, Ferris targeted teenage girls on Facebook and engaged in a pattern of extortion,
commonly known as “sextortion.” His victims ranged in age from 11 to 17 years old, and traveled
from across the country to confront him at trial.As part of his scheme, Ferris created fake Facebook personas appearing to be teenage girls. He also
joined Facebook groups meant for teenagers and survivors of sexual abuse. Ferris sent unsolicited
messages to teenage girls under the guise of being a peer looking to make a new friend. If the
teens responded, Ferris tried to convince them to send a nude photograph or answer personal
questions about themselves. Ferris then used that information as leverage to coerce them into
sending more explicit photos, answering more sexual questions, or performing sexual acts on
themselves or others while Ferris watched on video chat. If his victims refused to comply, or
pleaded to stop, Ferris harassed and threatened them until they kept going, usually threatening to
send the girls’ photos or answers to personal questions to their friends, parents, police, or child
protective services. Even after Ferris’ victims complied with his demands, he would often still
distribute their sexually explicit images to friends and family.“Ferris preyed upon some of the most vulnerable people in the community, children, by using shame
and fear to gain power over them,” said United States Attorney Rachelle Crowe. “Fortunately, those
minor victims and their families came from across the country to testify and hold Ferris
accountable for his disturbing demands. Discussions with children about their social media use and
who they can talk to about problems online helps to combat predators like Michael Ferris.”“I commend those that bravely came forward to testify to help get Ferris off our streets and away
from other children he might harm,” said HSI Chicago Special Agent in Charge R. Sean Fitzgerald.
“HSI and our law enforcement partners will continue to work within our communities to aid and
assist victims of these crimes and bring the predators to justice.”The investigation was conducted by agents from Homeland Security Investigations—Springfield with
assistance from Homeland Security Investigations domestic and international offices, Jackson County Oregon Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson County Illinois Sheriff’s Office, Illinois State Police, and
Aurora Missouri Police Department. Victim and Witness Support was provided by the United States Attorneys’ Office from the Southern District of Illinois, the Eastern District of Missouri, and
Homeland Security Investigations.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ali Burns and Luke Weissler prosecuted the case.Iowa Nurse Pleads Guilty to Stealing Fentanyl from Elderly PatientsRead the Press Release
An Iowa nurse who stole fentanyl from elderly patients pled guilty on November 21, 2022, in federal court in Sioux City. Ryan William Thornton, age 27, from Clear Lake, Iowa, was convicted of acquiring fentanyl by misrepresentation, fraud, deception, and subterfuge.
In a plea agreement, Thornton admitted that he diverted liquid fentanyl, that was supposed to be dispensed to patients, for his own personal use by removing fentanyl from the patients’ IV pumps with a syringe.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Thornton remains free on bond pending sentencing. Thornton faces a possible maximum sentence of 4 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 1 year of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons and was investigated by the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals Investigations Division Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-3034.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Indianapolis Drug Dealer Sentenced to over 12 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Methamphetamine and HeroinRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS – Dorian Hayden, 26, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 150 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents, on February 13, 2020, officers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) obtained a search warrant for Hayden’s Indianapolis apartment on Baneberry Lane. Hayden was a suspected drug trafficker. The officers went to Hayden’s apartment. When they arrived, they saw Hayden exit his apartment, enter a vehicle, and drive away. The officers stopped Hayden’s vehicle because they knew Hayden had a suspended driver’s license. Hayden was ordered out the vehicle. While placing Hayden in custody, the officers seized two loaded Glock handguns from Hayden’s pants pocket along with a key to his apartment.
On that same day, a search warrant was executed at Hayden’s apartment. The officers found 1.6 kilograms of methamphetamine, 49.64 grams of heroin, cutting products, multiple digital scales, $38,468 in U.S. currency, two metal industrial presses, a digital money counter, and a loaded semiautomatic pistol. Hayden admitted in his guilty plea that he had intended to sell the methamphetamine and heroin.
Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana; Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Columbus Field Division; Michael Gannon, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Indianapolis Field Office; and Randal Taylor, Police Chief of IMPD made the announcement.
ATF, DEA, and IMPD investigated the case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker. As part of the sentence, Barker ordered that Hayden be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for five years following his release from federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle P. Brady who prosecuted this case.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Georgia Woman Convicted for Role in International Conspiracy to Launder Proceeds of “Boiler Room” FraudRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Rachael Maia Winslow (55, Roswell, Georgia) guilty of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Winslow faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. Her sentencing hearing will be set at a later date. Winslow was indicted on May 20, 2020.
According to the testimony and evidence presented at trial, Winslow was a member of an international conspiracy to launder funds generated via boiler room fraud. The boiler rooms sold foreign victims what they were led to believe were legitimate investments, such as shares or stock in reputable companies such as Facebook, Chesapeake Energy, or Toys R Us. In fact, the investments were worthless, and the boiler rooms defrauded victims of over $14 million dollars, at least $4.7 million of which passed through accounts controlled by Winslow.
Winslow formed shell companies in various states, and then opened bank accounts in the names of those shell companies for the purpose of receiving fraud proceeds from victim-investors. Fraud proceeds were then wired back overseas and used to pay expenses and boiler room workers and otherwise perpetuate the scheme. Fraud proceeds were also wired to accounts controlled by coconspirators in the money laundering operation in the United States and overseas, including to Winslow’s overseas accounts, to compensate them for their roles in the conspiracy and otherwise for their personal enrichment. Winslow participated in this scheme while living in Barcelona, Spain, and in Miami, Florida.
The testimony and evidence presented at trial also proved that certain assets the United States is forfeiting from the defendant, specifically, $525,595.62 seized from an account in the name of Guardian Holdings, LLC, and $222,013.19 seized from an account in the name of First Assured Contact, LLC, are traceable proceeds of the offense.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Rachelle DesVaux Bedke and David W.A. Chee.
Four Defendants Indicted for Securities Fraud, Conducting International Pump-and-Dump Scheme, and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
Assistant U. S. Attorneys Owen Roth and Aaron P. Arnzen
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – November 22, 2022
SAN DIEGO – Canadian resident David Stephens and California residents Donald Danks, Jonathan Destler, and Robert Lazerus are charged in a federal grand-jury indictment with securities fraud in connection with a pump-and-dump scheme, and Danks is additionally charged with money laundering, arising from their alleged manipulation of the market for shares of Quebec-based Loop Industries, Inc.
Danks, Destler, and Lazerus are scheduled to appear in federal court on November 28, 2022.
According to the allegations in the indictment, in 2014, Stephens acquired control over a publicly-traded “shell” entity whose free-trading shares were held in various offshore nominee entities, and in 2015 worked with Danks and Destler to conduct a reverse-merger of the shell with Loop, thereby generating publicly tradable Loop shares. Without disclosing his controlling interest in all, or nearly all, freely tradeable Loop shares, Stephens directed sales of shares on the open market and transferred large blocks to Danks, a Loop board member, and Destler, a controlling shareholder. In turn, Danks and Destler made material false statements and omissions about their interests in Loop, failed to disclose those interests, and directed and conducted transactions in Loop stock. Danks and Destler worked with Lazerus to promote the stock, including by having Lazerus successfully persuade an elderly investor to purchase millions of dollars of shares in 2017. Stephens, Danks, Destler and Lazerus then divided the proceeds from the sales among themselves.
The indictment further alleges that Lazerus, assisted by Danks and Destler, sought to promote Loop shares by passing material, non-public information about Loop to an investor, who was in fact an undercover agent for the FBI. Finally, the indictment alleges that Danks used more than $500,000, procured as a margin loan from Loop shares, to finance the purchase of a home in Southern California.
“Securities fraud schemes victimize investors and degrade the integrity of the securities markets,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “This indictment reflects a commitment by this office and its agency partners to keep a vigilant watch for market manipulation and hold those who violate our securities laws accountable.” Grossman thanked the prosecution team, the FBI, and the Securities and Exchange Commission for their excellent work on the case.
“Today’s indictment sends a strong message that the FBI will aggressively pursue anyone who thinks they can get away with defrauding innocent investors for their personal gain,” said Stacey Moy, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI San Diego Field Office. “The FBI is committed to investigating allegations of significant financial crime and market manipulation, and in doing so, will work to restore public trust in a fair market.”
The Securities and Exchange Commission has also taken civil action against the named defendants.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 22cr2701-BAS
David Stephens Age: 66 Alberta, Canada
Donald Danks Age: 65 Newport Beach, CA
Jonathan Destler Age: 59 Los Angeles, CA
Robert Lazerus Age: 66 Solana Beach, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy – Title 18, U.S.C., Sec. 371
Securities Fraud –Title 18, U.S.C. Secs. 78(b), 78ff & Title 17, C.F.R. Sec. 240.10b-5
Money Laundering – Title 18 U.S.C., Sec. 1956(a)(1)(B)(i)
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and a fine of not more than the greater of twice the amount of gain or loss associated with the offense or $250,000.
AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
United States Securities and Exchange Commission Boston Regional Office
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Former Substitute Teacher and Coach Going to Prison for 20 Years on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Steven Gasiorek, 37, of Cheektowaga, NY, who was convicted of receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor, was sentenced to serve 20 years in prison and 10 years supervised release by Senior U.S. District Judge Williams M. Skretny.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who handled the case, stated that between March 2014, and April 16, 2019, Gasiorek worked as a substitute teacher and athletic coach at John F. Kennedy Middle and High Schools in Cheektowaga, NY. During that time, Gasiorek pretended to be a teenage girl living in California and used a fictitious Instagram account in the name of LEXIGURL1015 to communicate with numerous minor males and receive child pornography from them. Gasiorek knew the victims he was communicating with were minors, and he served as a teacher or coach to some of the victims he received child pornography from.
On April 16, 2019, during the execution of a search warrant at Gasiorek’s residence, a laptop computer and external hard drive were seized. A forensic examination recovered images and videos of child pornography depicting many minor males, of which 29 have been positively identified. The victims lived in Cheektowaga, Lancaster, Virginia, Texas, and Florida. In total, Gasiorek possessed over 600 images and videos of child pornography.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Michael Stansbury, the Cheektowaga Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Gould, the West Seneca Police Department, under the direction of Chief Edward Baker, and the Fauquier County, Virginia, Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Jeremy Falls.
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Former Santa Rosa County Deputy Sheriff Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Scott P. Haines, 50, of Milton, Florida, was sentenced to one year and a day in federal prison, following his previous guilty plea on the charge of making material false statements to the Federal Bureau of Investigation during an elder exploitation investigation. United States Attorney Jason R. Coody announced the sentence.
“Criminal conduct by those sworn to uphold the law represents a betrayal of the public trust,” stated U.S. Attorney Coody. “The corrupt acts of an individual law enforcement officer can erode the public’s trust in the legions of brave men and women who faithfully honor their oaths’ and place their lives on the line each day to keep our communities safe. We will vigorously investigate and prosecute any officer who betrays their sworn oath and the public’s trust.”
During his plea in federal court, Haines admitted that he became personally involved in the real property management and finances of an elderly woman in Santa Rosa County and deposited rental payments from tenants of the elderly woman into his own bank account without authority to do so. When confronted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Haines made material false statements regarding his involvement with the rental properties, the depositing of rental payments into his personal account, and his knowledge and involvement with the Last Will and Testament of the elderly woman of which he became a beneficiary.
"Police officers are given immense trust and responsibility, and are therefore held to a higher standard,” said Sherri E. Onks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division, “so there are serious consequences when one tarnishes the badge by breaking the law. Scott Haines disgraced the uniform when he abused his authority to victimize an elderly individual for his own personal gain, and his sentencing affirms that the FBI has zero tolerance for officials who prey on the citizens they have sworn to protect.”
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office cooperated fully with the FBI/FDLE investigation and immediately relieved Haines of his duties prior to the filing of criminal charges.
Haines will be required to serve one year on federal supervised release following his incarceration. He was formally adjudicated guilty by the United States District Court and is now a felon. Haines previously relinquished his criminal justice certifications.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg prosecuted the case.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Former Mississippi Sheriff and Deputy Indicted on Bribery ChargesRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A federal grand jury in Jackson has returned indictments charging the former sheriff of Noxubee County and one of his deputies with receiving bribes, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to court documents, former sheriff Terry Grassaree and former deputy Vance Phillips are charged with using facilities in interstate commerce, namely, the internet and a cellular phone, for the purpose of committing the offense of bribery. Grassaree is also charged with lying to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The defendants made their initial court appearances today before U.S. Magistrate Judge F. Keith Ball of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. The cases are set for trial on January 9, 2023. If convicted, Grassaree faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and Phillips faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Purdie is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Bookkeeper and Husband Sentenced to Federal Prison for Wire Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung has sentenced Desiree Madiedo (45, Brooksville) to serve one year and one day in federal prison for wire fraud. Earlier, on November 8, 2022, Judge Jung sentenced Desiree Madiedo’s husband, Christopher Madiedo (47, Brooksville), to 30 months in federal prison for his role in the wire fraud scheme. As part of their sentences, the court also ordered the Madiedos to pay full restitution in the amount of $342,155 to the victim company and entered an order of forfeiture in the same amount, representing the proceeds of the couple’s wire fraud scheme. Desiree Madiedo was found guilty on June 3, 2022. Christopher Madiedo was found guilty on September 8, 2022.
According to court documents, Desiree Madiedo was hired in 2004 by Company 1, a worldwide agribusiness, to work in the company’s Tampa office. There, she initially worked as a receptionist and was later assigned to work in the company’s accounting and office management department where she handled the Tampa office’s accounts receivable and accounts payable. Around 2014, Desiree Madiedo’s duties and responsibilities were expanded to include administration and reconciliation of Company 1’s credit card account. Around the same time, she caused Company 1 to establish an automatic monthly payment to be made from its bank account to cover charges made by Company 1 employees against its credit cards. From then and until around January 2018, the Madiedos utilized Desiree Madiedo’s company credit card to purchase approximately $342,155 in personal items and services, which were not valid business-related expenditures.
In an effort to conceal the purchases of personal items and services by herself and her husband, Desiree Madiedo continued to collect and reconcile all of the other Company 1 employees’ expense account reports, enter appropriate business expenditures made by the employees into Company 1’s books and records, and ensure that the entire outstanding balance due the credit card company—which included charges made by the Madiedos against the company’s credit card account for personal items and services—was paid in full.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay G. Trezevant. Assistant United States Attorney James A. Muench is handling the asset forfeiture.
Former Bellevue Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Selling Stolen Items on AmazonRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A Florida resident has pled guilty to wire fraud and money laundering charges, United States Attorney Cindy Chung announced today.
The plea of guilty was entered by Thac Duc Le, age 37, formerly of Venetia, PA, currently from Davie, Florida.
According to the information presented to the Court, during the period April, 2013 through August, 2016, Le operated a business in Bellevue, PA, called Last Call Entertainment. While Last Call was a second hand reseller of small electronics goods, Le also participated in buying health and beauty products (makeup, lipstick, etc.), over the counter medications (ibuprofen, aspirin, dietary supplements) and a wide variety of miscellaneous products (teeth whitening strips, electronic toothbrushes, pet products, small electronics like calculators, etc.), all purchased from walk-in sellers. These walk-in sellers were almost always addicted to various drugs and had shoplifted the products they were offering for sale to Le from local retail merchants. The Court heard of evidence that Le paid these walk-in sellers pennies on the dollar and in turn resold these stolen items on Amazon and that Amazon in turn paid him, by electronic funds transfers, more than $400,000 during the time period of the Indictment.
Chief Judge Mark Hornak accepted Le’s plea of guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. Le was released on bond after assuring the Court that he would return for sentencing.
The Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Postal Inspection Service, together with a number of local police departments, conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case, and others that remain pending.
Former Amtrak Employee and Her Husband Plead Guilty to Charges for Fraudulently Obtaining Nearly $1 Million in COVID Jobless ReliefRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A former Amtrak employee pleaded guilty today to federal criminal charges for conspiring with her husband to steal nearly $1 million in COVID-19 pandemic-related unemployment insurance (UI) benefits and for fraudulently obtaining more than $63,000 in sickness benefits while she worked at Amtrak.
Lizette Berrios Lathon, 45, of Moreno Valley, pleaded guilty to a three-count information charging her with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and wire fraud.
Lathon’s husband, Kenneth Andrew Lathon, 48, also of Moreno Valley, pleaded guilty to a three-count information charging him with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to her plea agreement, from 2014 until the present day, Lizette Lathon, in addition to her one-time duties as a service attendant for Amtrak, operated at least three tax preparation businesses: Miracle Tax Service, which was located on Los Angeles’ Miracle Mile; Hardcore Corp., which did business as “Hardcore Taxes;” and Lathon LLC. The latter two companies were located in Moreno Valley.
Lathon and her husband took advantage of the expanded eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits made possible by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act signed into law in 2020. The CARES Act also established the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, which provided additional UI benefits to qualified individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic including people who did not otherwise qualify for UI such as business owners, self-employed workers, independent contractors, and those with a limited work history.
In some instances, Lizette Lathon submitted fraudulent applications with the California Employment Development Department (EDD) for UI benefits using names, Social Security numbers and dates of birth that she obtained from former clients of her tax preparation businesses without the permission of those former clients. On the applications, she falsely asserted inflated income for the named claimants – many of whom had never lived in California – to receive the maximum benefit amount.
As a result of the fraudulent claims she filed, EDD authorized Bank of America to issue debit cards in the names of Lizette Lathon’s former clients, but the cards were mailed to addresses she and her family controlled. She and her husband then used the debit cards to make cash withdrawals at ATMs and to make purchases at retail stores.
During the conspiracy, which lasted from the spring of 2020 until March 2021, Lathon and her husband caused at least 44 fraudulent unemployment claims to be filed, resulting in losses to EDD and the United States Treasury of approximately $998,630.
Lizette Lathon, who was employed at Amtrak from 2000 to 2021, also schemed to defraud the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) out of sickness benefit payments by filing forged and false claims that stated she was being treated by a medical professional for pain and anxiety. Through this scheme, which lasted from September 2014 to January 2020, she fraudulently obtained approximately $63,047 in sickness benefit payments.
Kenneth Lathon admitted in his plea agreement to possessing a .22-caliber rifle and 12-gauge shotgun that bore no identifiable serial number despite his criminal history, which includes felony convictions in California state court for theft, cocaine possession, and fraud.
United States District Judge Fernando M. Olguin scheduled an April 13, 2023 sentencing hearing for the defendants, at which time Lizette Lathon will face a statutory maximum sentence of 42 years in federal prison, and Kenneth Lathon will face a statutory maximum sentence of 32 years in federal prison.
This matter is being investigated by the United States Railroad Retirement Board Office of Inspector General; Amtrak Office of Inspector General; the United States Department of Labor Office of Inspector General; the United States Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration; the California Employment Development Department; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Homeland Security Investigations; and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
Assistant United States Attorney Byron R. Tuyay of the Riverside Branch Office is prosecuting these cases.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at (866) 720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Florissant Woman Admits $100,000 Pandemic Loan FraudRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS –A woman from Florissant on Monday pleaded guilty to federal charges and admitted fraudulently obtaining two pandemic-era loans totaling more than $101,000.
Lakenya M. Hobbs, 40, pleaded guilty in front of U.S. District Judge Ronnie L. White to one count of bank fraud and one count of wire fraud.
Hobbs admitted scheming to defraud the Paycheck Protection Program, which provided forgivable loans to small businesses to help them save jobs during the pandemic. The loans were based on payroll expenses and the number of employees, among other factors.
On March 12, 2021, Hobbs submitted a loan application to Banterra Bank containing false and fraudulent information that triggered the issuance of a $81, 223 check. Hobbs did not use the money to save jobs but instead at electronic stores and restaurants and for airfare. She also took some out in cash. On Oct. 1, 2021, she applied for loan forgiveness, falsely stating in the application that she’s used the PPP money for payroll. She was granted forgiveness.
On May 27, 2021, Hobbs submitted a loan application to Harvest Small Business Finance. She falsely inflated her gross income on the application and got a $20,344 loan. On Nov. 29, 2021, she applied to have her loan forgiven. She was also granted forgiveness for this loan.
At her sentencing February 22, Hobbs could face up to 30 years in prison. She will also have to repay the money.
The case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow is prosecuting the case.
Festus Man Sentenced to 33 Months in Prison for Embezzling $854,000Read the Press Release
ST. LOUIS –U.S. District Judge John A. Ross on Tuesday sentenced a man who embezzled $845,000 to 33 months in prison.
Ryan S. Kent, 44, of Festus, Missouri, used a series of schemes starting in 2017 to take the money while employed as a maintenance supervisor at a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in St. Louis.
Beginning in July 2017, Kent bought supplies and equipment with his personal debit or credit card and doctored the receipts to inflate the amount of purchase before submitting them to his company. He would also submit fictitious invoices and sought reimbursement for costs that he never incurred traveling to pick up parts or equipment. He also bought supplies at Home Depot, returned them and then sought reimbursement from the company, his plea agreement says.
Kent used the money for personal bills, to redo his backyard, for travel to Las Vegas to gamble and to buy a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado and a 2021 Cadillac Escalade.
Kent pleaded guilty in August to a felony wire fraud charge. As part of the sentencing hearing Tuesday, Judge Ross ordered Kent to repay the money. He also banned Kent from casinos.
“People who embezzle should know their crime will eventually come to light despite their best attempts at covering their tracks. In this case, Ryan Kent’s employer contacted the FBI when an internal investigation revealed possible fraud,” said Special Agent in Charge Jay Greenberg of the FBI St. Louis Division. “Kent will now have time to ponder how his selfish greed earned him 33 months in federal prison.”
The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman.
Fenton Man Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison for Stealing $1.2 Million from InvestorsRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp on Tuesday sentenced a Fenton, Missouri man who bilked investors out of $1.2 million to four years in prison and ordered him to repay the money.
Harish Sunkara, 51, falsely told investors that he had won contracts with the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport worth between $750,000 and $950,000. His company, Pace Solutions, had actually won a $49,500 contract to provide the airport with IT training software. But from Sept. 2, 2020 through at least Nov. 16, 2021, Sunkara used forged, altered and fraudulent versions of the legitimate contract documents, including the forged signature of the airport’s contract administrator, to dupe investors.
In what Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman called a “long-running scheme to defraud,” six investors lost amounts ranging from $51,800 to $645,000, for a total of $1,271,800.
On multiple occasions when investors wired him money, he sent all or part of it to Las Vegas casinos. Between 2020 and 2021, Sunkara spent at least $5.5 million at casinos in eastern Missouri and Nevada.
Sunkara was taken into custody in the courtroom to begin serving his sentence.
Sunkara pleaded guilty in August to two counts of aggravated identity theft.
“Harish Sunkara knowingly defrauded and stole money from people who trusted him. For his selfish greed, he received the ultimate payment of four years in federal prison,” said Special Agent in Charge Jay Greenberg of the FBI St. Louis Division. “Unfortunately, fraudsters exploit people they already know because of the existing trust. This type of tactic is so common, it is known as ‘affinity fraud.’ “
The case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman is prosecuting the case.
Felon Who Threatened Law Enforcement Sentenced for Illegal FirearmRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Virginia Beach man was sentenced today to 4 years in prison for possessing a firearm as a felon.
According to court documents, in March 2021, Thomas Liddle, 28, and a co-conspirator made death threats to a Norfolk Police Detective/FBI Task Force Officer (TFO) and his family. Specifically, Liddle and his co-conspirator sent text messages to the TFO’s cell phone threatening to kill him, his wife, and his family. The messages indicated the conspirators knew where the TFO lived and worked. The TFO also received threatening calls.
In December 2021, there was an arrest warrant for Liddle for failing to appear in court. The Norfolk Police Department (NPD) received a tip concerning Liddle’s location. NPD observed Liddle in the driver’s seat of a parked vehicle. When Liddle was being arrested, officers observed a firearm in the pocket of Liddle’s pants. Liddle had been previously convicted in 2014 in Norfolk of robbery, burglary, and use of a firearm, thereby making his possession of a firearm illegal. After the arrest, Liddle admitted he was present when the threatening calls were made to the TFO and admitted he identified the TFO for his conspirator to make the threats.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Ramin Fatehi, Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney; Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; and Michael Goldsmith, Interim Chief of Norfolk Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Mark S. Davis.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham M. Stolle and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe DePadilla prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-11.
Federal Jury Convicts Olmsted County Man for Drug Trafficking Conspiracy and Possession of Cocaine with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A federal jury convicted an Olmsted County man for conspiring to distribute controlled substances and for possession with intent to distribute cocaine after being arrested with four kilograms of cocaine in his rental car, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
Following a four-day trial before U.S. District Judge Nancy E. Brasel, Christopher Allen Edwards, 39, was convicted on November 17, 2022, of one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, specifically, cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine, and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later time.
According to the evidence presented at trial, in early 2021, law enforcement received information that Edwards was dealing drugs in the Rochester area. Law enforcement determined that Edwards and his co-conspirator, Chloe Michelle Johnson, 25, were dealing a variety of drugs throughout Rochester and Southeastern Minnesota, from May 2021 through October 16, 2021, the date of their arrest.
In October 2021, law enforcement tracked Edwards’ rental vehicle as he traveled to Austin, Texas, and back to Minnesota in a quick turnaround road trip. On October 16, 2021, law enforcement stopped Edwards and Johnson in Edwards’ rental car once they drove back into Olmsted County. Edwards was caught with four kilograms of cocaine in his backpack in his rental car. That same day, law enforcement executed search warrants on Edwards’ and Johnson’s residences and found various amounts of cocaine packaged for distribution, heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine.
On May 12, 2022, Johnson pleaded guilty to her role in the drug trafficking conspiracy. She is scheduled to be sentenced on February 9, 2023.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office, the Southeast Minnesota Violent Crime Enforcement Team, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan H. Nelson and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary A. Taylor tried the case.
Fairhope Man Sentenced to 30 Months and Ordered to Pay $1.2 Million in Restitution in PPP Fraud CaseRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – The Hon. Terry F. Moorer has sentenced Jason Carl Pears of Fairhope, Alabama, to 30 months’ imprisonment following his August 2022 guilty plea to two counts of Wire Fraud and one count of Money Laundering. The sentence arises from Pears’ abuse of assistance programs provided under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
According to court documents, Pears obtained two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans on behalf of two companies: The Jason Made It Company and Nanny For A Week. Pears utilized false tax forms, altered checks, and falsified loan documents to obtain the loans. After successfully securing over $1.2 Million in PPP loan funds, Pears spent the money on luxury goods and real estate, among other things.
U. S. Attorney Sean P. Costello said, “Crime doesn’t pay, especially when criminals steal from federal programs for people in real need. Our partners in law enforcement are continuing their efforts to investigate and identify anyone who took advantage of these programs to steal taxpayers’ money, and my office will keep prosecuting the selfish fraudsters who cheat the system.”“Paycheck Protection Program fraud should strike fear into the hearts of the citizens of South Alabama. The PPP was devised to assist honest people through some of the toughest of financial times and Mr. Pears took advantage of the program to purchase lavish gifts for himself. The 30 months imprisonment and order to pay $1.2 million dollars in restitution should send a clear message to anyone thinking of committing fraud against any government program.” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown.
“Many deserving businesses were unable to benefit from the Paycheck Protection Program because people like Mr. Pears submitted false documents and stole funds he was not entitled to receive,” said James E. Dorsey, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation and our Federal partners are committed to investigating and prosecuting those who illegally took funds from the program.”
The case was investigated by a joint taskforce of Special Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service, the Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General, and the Small Business Administration - Office of Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kasee Heisterhagen prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.Eagle Butte Man Sentenced on Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man convicted of Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm was sentenced on November 21, 2022, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.
Joseph Elsey, age 34, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Elsey was indicted for Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm by a federal grand jury in December of 2022. He pleaded guilty on August 11, 2022.
On July 11, 2021, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services officers found a revolver, methamphetamine, and methamphetamine paraphernalia in Elsey’s vehicle in Eagle Butte. Elsey admitted he owned the pistol. Elsey had been convicted of aggravated assault in 2016, and this conviction made it illegal for him to possess firearms. Elsey was also prohibited from possessing firearms because he was a habitual user of methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, the Dewey County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
Elsey was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Duo sentenced to 40 years in prison for carjacking resulting in deathRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced that Stetson Shane Barnes, 30, of Loving, New Mexico, and Donald Alfred Busch, 34, of Carlsbad, New Mexico, were each sentenced to 40 years in prison following a conviction for their parts in a carjacking resulting in death.
On Nov. 12, 2021, after a nearly two-week trial, a federal jury convicted Barnes and Busch of conspiracy to commit carjacking, carjacking resulting in death, and being felons in possession of firearms and ammunition. Busch was also found guilty of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
On the night of May 27, 2019, Barnes, Busch and Tyson Lee Terrell traveled to the victim’s home in Loving with an accomplice, Jehra Lynn Hedgecock, 33, of Carlsbad. The group had conspired to steal a motorcycle from the victim, identified in court records as J.S.
Upon the group arriving at the victim’s residence in Hedgecock’s truck, Hedgecock knocked at the front door in an attempt to lure J.S. outside. Meanwhile, Busch located the motorcycle he wanted to steal under the victim’s carport and began pushing it away. As the victim emerged from his home, Barnes, Busch and Hedgecock all pointed firearms at him. Jurors heard testimony that Busch ordered J.S. back into his home while holding him at gunpoint.
While Busch continued to push the motorcycle off the victim’s property, Hedgecock and Barnes got into Hedgecock’s truck. As they began to drive away, Barnes fired twelve shots from the truck into the residence, the last of which struck and killed J.S. The victim’s father testified that J.S. called him to ask for help, and that he was on the phone with J.S. when he heard gunshots ring out. According to courtroom testimony, J.S. was taking cover in the back room of his home when he was struck by the last bullet fired by Barnes.
After the shooting, Hedgecock stopped the truck on the side of the road where Barnes helped Busch to load the motorcycle in the back of the truck, and the conspirators fled. Hedgecock’s truck was found burning in a ravine outside Carlsbad the following day and J.S.’s motorcycle was later recovered from Barnes’ property.
Hedgecock pleaded guilty on July 22, 2021, to one count of conspiracy, one count of carjacking resulting in death and one count of using, brandishing and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and possessing and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of such crime. Sentencing for Hedgecock is scheduled for Jan. 10, 2023.
Terrell pleaded guilty on Jan. 20 to one count of conspiracy. On July 22, Terrell was sentenced to four years in prison.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with assistance from New Mexico State Police and the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Maria Y. Armijo and Ry Ellison are prosecuting this case.
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Dominican Man Sentenced to 18 Months’ Imprisonment for Evading Tobacco Excise TaxesRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jose Dominguez, age 58, of the Dominican Republic, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Jennifer P. Wilson to 18 months’ imprisonment for conspiring to evade federal excise taxes on imported large cigars. Dominguez was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Dominguez owned and operated the Dominican-based cigar manufacturer Victor Sinclair Cigars. Dominguez previously admitted that he conspired to evade the excise taxes imposed on the importation of Victor Sinclair manufactured cigars from 2009 to 2012. Dominguez’s co-conspirators included his U.S. importers, Donna Venturini and Hope Carbone, both of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. During the conspiracy, Dominguez, Venturini, and Carbone collected approximately $3.9 million in excise taxes from U.S. purchasers of Victor Sinclair manufactured cigars. By using fraudulent invoices, the co-conspirators paid only approximately $2.1 million to the government, unlawfully retaining approximately $1.8 million for themselves. As part of his sentence, Dominguez was ordered to pay restitution.
Venturini and Carbone also pleaded guilty. They were sentenced to two years of probation in August 2022.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and the Department of Treasury, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carlo D. Marchioli, Joseph J. Terz, and Michael A. Consiglio prosecuted the case.
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Detroit Man Sentenced for Distributing Heroin, Fentanyl, and Cocaine BaseRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that on November 21, 2022, Deamontae Luchie, 29, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Christina Reiss to 31 months’ imprisonment and a 3-year term of supervised release for distributing heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine base between December 2019 and January 2020.
According to court records, in December 2019 and January 2020, investigators with the Burlington Police Department conducted three controlled purchases of narcotics from Luchie.
On December 24, 2019, in the vicinity of North Champlain Street in Burlington, Vermont, Luchie sold fentanyl and heroin as well as cocaine base to a confidential source, who was cooperating with law enforcement. On January 6, 2020, in the vicinity of Champlain Street in Burlington, Vermont, Luchie sold heroin and fentanyl to a confidential source. And on January 8, 2020, in the vicinity of Summit Street in Essex, Vermont, Luchie sold heroin and fentanyl to a confidential source. Following his arrest on January 15, 2020, Luchie admitting to travelling from Detroit, Michigan to Burlington, Vermont to sell narcotics in the Burlington, Vermont area.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the efforts of the Burlington Police Department as well as the Drug Enforcement Administration, Burlington Resident Office, in the investigation and prosecution of Luchie.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew C. Gilman. Luchie was represented by Mohammed A. Nasser, Esq., Jeremy D. Bowie, Esq., and Mark D. Oettinger, Esq.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf
Denver Man Sentenced to 9.5 Years in Prison for Possession of a Stolen FirearmRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces Frederick McCoy, age 39, of Denver, has been sentenced to 9.5 years in federal prison for possession of a stolen firearm.
According to an earlier plea agreement, on February 22, 2022, Denver police officers arrested the defendant on an outstanding warrant. Officers discovered the defendant had a fanny-pack strapped to his chest containing a Sig Sauer .40 caliber handgun, loaded with ammunition. The handgun had further been reported stolen out of Denver on October 3, 2021. The defendant knew or had reason to know that the gun and the ammunition in it were stolen.
Judge Raymond P. Moore sentenced the defendant on November 21, 2022. Judge Moore also sentenced the defendant to three years of supervised release.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, along with the Denver Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Albert Buchman.
CASE NUMBER: 22-cr-118
Denver Man Pleads Guilty to 10 Armed Bank RobberiesRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces Jerome Bravo, age 39, of Denver, has pleaded guilty to ten counts of bank robbery and three counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
According to the plea agreement, the defendant robbed ten banks in Denver, Aurora, and Arvada between January 6, 2021, and March 31, 2021. In the January 6th robbery, the defendant was armed with a black handgun, pointed it at a teller, and stated, "Don't move, I'm going to shoot you." After taking money from the drawer, he jumped back over the counter and left the bank. On February 4, 2021, and February 8, 2021, the defendant and a codefendant ran into two banks yelling and screaming, waiving and pointing their handguns at people in the banks. The defendant demanded the teller open her drawer as he vaulted over the counter. Out of fear, the teller complied and removed money from her drawer and gave it to the defendant and his codefendant. In a second bank robbery on February 8, 2021, the defendant and codefendant ran into the bank brandishing handguns, vaulted the counter, and demanded money from the teller. The teller was in fear for her life and safety and gave the robbers the money in her drawers and from the machine. After obtaining the money, the defendant and codefendant vaulted the counters and ran out of the bank. On February 18, 2021, the defendant and codefendant entered the branch brandishing handguns, yelling “get down,” and warning that they weren’t “playing.” The defendant and codefendant also threatened to shoot the occupants of the bank. The defendant vaulted over the counter and emptied out several teller drawers, actually physically taking the drawer units.
Judge Daniel D. Domenico presided over the change of plea hearing on November 22, 2022. The defendant will be sentenced February 21, 2023 at 2:30 p.m. Codefendant Jonathan Gullete is in custody and facing trial on February 27, 2023.
This was investigated by the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Denver Police Department, Aurora Police Department and Arvada Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Brian Dunn.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
CASE NUMBER: 21-cr-226
Convicted Felon Going to Prison on New Child Pornography ChargeRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Jason David Willis, 50, of Gasport, NY, who was convicted of receipt of child pornography following a prior conviction, was sentenced to serve 15 years in prison by Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who handled the case, stated that in 2011, Willis was sentenced to serve 132 months in prison following his conviction on a federal child pornography charge. On May 18, 2021, an acquaintance of Willis’ brought his iPhone to the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office and stated that contained child pornography. The following day, on May 19, 2021, a U.S. Probation Officer searched the iPhone and observed two videos in the “recently deleted” folder on the phone that were produced by Willis on October 24 and October 28, 2020. Both videos depicted explicit images of a 17-year-old minor female. Further review of the iPhone revealed internet history for at least one website containing child pornography.
At the time of his second arrest, Willis was on federal supervised release from his previous conviction and a registered sex offender.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Michael Stansbury, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Michael Felicetti, and the U.S. Probation Department, under the direction of Chief Probation Officer Timothy C. Englerth.
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Cleveland Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Assaulting Mail Carrier with a FirearmRead the Press Release
AKRON – A Cleveland man was sentenced on Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, to seven years and one day in prison by U.S. District Judge Sara Lioi after he pleaded guilty to assaulting a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) mail carrier and crashing the carrier’s vehicle.
“This defendant used a deadly weapon to commit a violent crime against a mail carrier simply trying to do their job,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler. “Violent actions like this will not be tolerated in our communities, and we will continue to seek severe penalties for similar behavior.”
“The safety and well-being of Postal Service employees has always been a top priority for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service,” said Postal Inspector In Charge Lesley Allison. “This sentence is a perfect example of the steadfast commitment to keeping the heroes who serve our communities safe while performing their duties.”
According to court documents, on June 21, 2021, Quentell Allen, 27, approached a USPS employee, who was delivering mail on an official route, brandished a pistol at the carrier’s head and demanded that the carrier exit the vehicle. Allen then physically removed the carrier from the vehicle, entered the driver’s seat and purposefully drove it into another vehicle.
Allen pleaded guilty to one count of forcibly assaulting an officer/employee of the United States and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence in July 2022.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly L. Galvin and Margaret A. Kane.
Clarksville Home Business Owner Convicted of Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – A federal jury yesterday convicted a Clarksville, Tennessee man of filing false tax returns that omitted income he earned from his business, announced U.S. Attorney Mark H. Wildasin for the Middle District of Tennessee and Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, David Haley, 65, of Clarksville, owned Haley & Associates Mechanical Contractors, a heating and plumbing business. From 2014 through 2017, Haley & Associates was hired as the subcontractor on commercial projects in middle Tennessee and was paid more than $1,000,000 for each year. Generally, the contractors that hired Haley & Associates paid via check and reported the payments to the IRS via Forms 1099-MISC as non-employee compensation. Even though Haley personally received a portion of the company’s earnings as business income and nonemployee compensation, Haley reported earning no income on his 2014-2017 tax returns. Haley’s failure to report that income on his tax returns for tax years 2015 through 2017 caused the IRS a loss of approximately $186,290.
Haley was convicted of three counts of filing false tax returns for tax years 2015, 2016, and 2017. The jury acquitted Haley of one count of filing a false tax return relating to his 2014 tax filing.
Haley will be sentenced at a later date. He faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each count of filing false tax returns. U.S. District Judge William L. Campbell, Jr. will determine any sentence after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
IRS-Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn W. Booth and Trial Attorney Mitchell T. Galloway of the Justice Department’s Tax Division are prosecuting the case.
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Cincinnati Man Sentenced to 262 Months for Methamphetamine and Fentanyl ConspiracyRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – A Cincinnati man, Tamar Pope, 36, was sentenced Tuesday to 262 months in federal prison, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 400 grams or more of fentanyl, as well as aiding and abetting the distribution of 50 grams of methamphetamine.
According to his plea agreement, Pope supplied more than 30 pounds of crystal methamphetamine and 15 pounds of fentanyl to a conspiracy that distributed these substances in Northern Kentucky and Southern Ohio. Law enforcement seized significant amounts of methamphetamine from various conspiracy members in Kentucky and Ohio during the investigation.
Pope has four previous convictions for drug trafficking and had been released from prison in 2019.
Pope pleaded guilty to the current charges in June 2022.
Five other defendants have already been sentenced for their roles in the conspiracy. Robert Pflug was sentenced to 144 months; Holly McHenry was sentenced to 180 months; Thomas Powers was sentenced to 48 months; Travis Lelesch was sentenced to 84 months; and Allie Skirvin was sentenced to 202 months.
Under federal law, each Defendant must serve 85 percent of their prison sentence. Pope will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years after his release from prison.
Carlton S. Shier IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Keith Martin, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Detroit Field Division; Bryan Allen, Chief of the Villa Hills Police Department; and Christopher Fangman, Chief of the Newport Police Department, jointly announced the sentences.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Villa Hills Police Department, and the Newport Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Bracke.
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Carter Lake Man Sentenced to 41 Months for Business RobberiesRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Mario Quiroga, 22, of Carter Lake, Iowa, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for one count of Interference with Interstate Commerce by way of Robbery. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Quiroga to 41 months in federal prison and ordered him to pay $466.00 in restitution. There is no parole in the federal system. After completing his term of imprisonment, Quiroga will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.
On July 21, 2021, Quiroga robbed three businesses in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Omaha in a span of about 90 minutes. Following the robbery spree, Quiroga engaged officers with the Omaha Police Department in a high-speed pursuit, driving over 90 miles per hour attempting to flee the scene.
Quiroga first robbed a Walgreens in Council Bluffs brandishing an airsoft gun at approximately 3:28 a.m. on July 21, 2021. At 4:21 a.m. the same morning, Quiroga robbed a Kwik Shop on Q Street in Omaha. Sixteen minutes after that robbery, Quiroga robbed a QuikTrip on L Street in Omaha. Officers identified Quiroga’s vehicle as a suspect vehicle in the area of this robbery, and that is when Quiroga sped up and fled the area. Officers were able to identify Quiroga and take him into custody at his residence in Carter Lake on August 6, 2021.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Omaha Police Department.
Carson Man Sentenced to More Than 18 Years in Federal Prison for Making Sexually Explicit Videos of 15-Year-Old VictimRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A South Bay man who – along with three other accomplices – victimized a 15-year-old girl by creating sexually explicit videos of her has been sentenced to 220 months in federal prison, the Justice Department announced today.
Leprinceton Dewon Burks, 38, of Carson, was sentenced on Monday afternoon by United States District Judge Terry J. Hatter Jr., who also placed Burks on lifetime supervised release once Burks completes his prison sentence.
In June 2021, at the conclusion of a four-day trial, a jury found Burks guilty of two counts of conspiracy to produce child pornography, two counts of production of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography.
From July 2011 to August 2011, Burks and three accomplices filmed the victim participating in various sex acts. Burks was visible in the videos that law enforcement recovered from his laptop computer as well as the laptop and cellphone of a co-conspirator.
“The videos show that [Burks] was an enthusiastic participant in this exploitation and when questioned by law enforcement, he said that he thought it was ‘funny,’” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum.
Burks is the final defendant to be sentenced in this case. In August 2015, a federal grand jury charged Burks and three co-defendants in an indictment for sexually exploiting the victim. Each of Burks’ co-defendants pleaded guilty in 2016 to criminal charges in this case and have been sentenced to federal prison terms.
- Darrius Marques Sutton, 32, of Compton, is serving a 160-month prison sentence;
- Darius Dajohn Burks, 34, of Los Angeles, Leprinceton Burks’ brother, is serving a sentence of six years in federal prison; and
- Edwin Donnell Franklin, 35, is serving a four-year federal prison sentence.
The FBI and the Los Angeles Police Department investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Devon Myers of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section prosecuted this case.
Canton City Officials and Former Canton City Engineer Indicted in Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A federal grand jury in Jackson returned an indictment in December 2021 charging three City of Canton officials, and the former city engineer, with criminal conspiracy charges relating to bribery and wire fraud. That indictment was unsealed yesterday as two of the defendants, Eric Gilkey and Andrew Grant, pleaded guilty to conspiring with Cleveland Anderson and Rudolph M. (“Rudy”) Warnock, Jr. in the bribery scheme.
According to court documents, Warnock is charged with having directed payments and rewards to Anderson, Gilkey, and Grant in exchange for preferential treatment that resulted in lucrative city engineering contracts for Warnock. The “gratuities” supplied by Warnock included thousands of dollars in cash, concert tickets, and football tickets in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Gilkey, 55, and Grant, 38, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Bribery. They are scheduled to be sentenced on February 23, 2022, and face a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison.
Anderson is charged with two counts of Conspiracy to Commit Bribery in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371. If convicted, Anderson faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison as to each count.
Warnock is charged with two counts of Conspiracy to Commit Bribery in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, one count of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349, and one count of Wire Fraud in violation of the Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343. If convicted, Warnock faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison as to the Conspiracy to Commit Bribery Charges. Warnock faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison as to the charges relating to Wire Fraud.
Warnock and Anderson will make their initial court appearances on a future date before a U.S. Magistrate Judge.
U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca of the Southern District of Mississippi; and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The FBI is investigating the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Camden County Resident Sentenced to 41 Months in Prison for Defrauding COVID-19 Relief Programs and Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Camden County, New Jersey, resident was sentenced to 41 months in prison for his role in fraudulently obtaining Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) benefits, fraudulently obtaining unemployment benefits, and illegally possessing a firearm, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Stephen Bennett, 46, of Berlin, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Karen M. Williams to an information charging him with one count of bank fraud conspiracy, one count of wire fraud, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Judge Williams imposed the sentence on Nov. 21, 2022, in Camden federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In 2020, Bennett conspired with Rhonda Thomas, 38, of Sicklerville, New Jersey, to submit one PPP application and one EIDL application for a company controlled by Bennett. The applications stated that the company had 16 employees, gross revenues of $1.73 million, and an average monthly payroll of $144,000, when in fact the company had no employees, revenue, or payroll. Bennett and Thomas also submitted forged tax forms and altered bank statements as part of the PPP loan application. Based on the misrepresentations, the loans were approved in the amount of $510,000. Bennett paid kickbacks of over $150,000 to Thomas and used the rest of the fraudulently obtained PPP and EIDL loan proceeds to pay for personal expenses.
Also in 2020, Bennett defrauded the Pennsylvania Department of Labor by submitting 74 unemployment insurance claims under a temporary federal unemployment insurance program that provided benefits for individuals who were not eligible for other types of unemployment, such those who were self-employed, independent contractors or gig economy workers. Bennett collected personal identification information (PII), including names, residential addresses, and Social Security numbers, of other individuals and used the PII to submit fraudulent applications for unemployment benefits, resulting in the payment of $425,339 in benefits to Bennett.
In May 2021, law enforcement officials executing a search warrant at Bennett’s home found a .9 millimeter semiautomatic pistol with no serial number (commonly referred to as a “ghost gun”) and a magazine loaded with 16 rounds of ammunition. Bennett is a previously convicted felon.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Williams sentenced Bennett to five years of supervised release, fined him $15,000, and ordered him to pay restitution of $942,141.
Thomas pleaded pleaded guilty before Judge Williams on June 28, 2022, to an information charging her with one count of bank fraud conspiracy and one count of money laundering and is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 16, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Patricia Tarasca, Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Regional Office, special agents of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, New York Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Sharon MacDermott; special agents of the FBI’s South Jersey Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jacqueline Maguire in Philadelphia, special agents of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, New York Region, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel A. Friedman and Jason M. Richardson, Attorney in Charge of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Camden.
California Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Send Meth Through the MailRead the Press Release
A California man was sentenced November 17, 2022, to 10 years in federal prison. Wesley Wood, age 43, from San Marcos, California, received the prison term after a May 26, 2022, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
In a plea agreement, Wood admitted he conspired to distribute multiple pounds of methamphetamine to Sheldon, Iowa in the U.S. Postal Service.
Wood was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Wood was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 4-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Wood is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons and investigated by United States Postal Inspection Service and the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-4056.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Brooklyn Woman Pleads Guilty to Multifaceted COVID-19 Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that TATIANA DANIEL pled guilty today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. DANIEL participated in a scheme to commit COVID-19 pandemic fraud by (1) defrauding New York City’s COVID-19 Hotel Room Isolation Program; (2) selling fabricated COVID-19 test results, both positive and negative; (3) committing unemployment benefits fraud; and (4) obtaining fraudulent COVID-19 loans from both the United States Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) program. DANIEL pled guilty before United States Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang. DANIEL’s case is assigned to United States District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As she admitted today, Tatiana Daniel repeatedly took advantage of resources offered to aid people and businesses in crisis. Daniel’s misconduct included selling fabricated COVID-19 test results, which likely put members of the public at risk of contracting the deadly virus from one of Daniel’s customers. Daniel now faces possible prison time for her illegal and dangerous actions.”
According to the allegations contained in the Superseding Information, court filings, and statements made during plea proceedings:
From March 2020 through September 2021, DANIEL conspired to commit COVID-19 pandemic fraud through a variety of different means.
First, DANIEL defrauded the COVID-19 Hotel Room Isolation Program (the “Program”). In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, New York City created the Program. Funded by New York City and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Program provided free hotel rooms for qualifying individuals throughout New York City. The Program was open to (a) healthcare workers who needed to isolate because of exposure to COVID-19; (b) patients who had tested positive for COVID-19; (c) individuals who believed, based on their symptoms, that they were infected with COVID-19; and (d) individuals who lived with someone who had COVID-19. As stated on the City’s website describing the Program, such individuals “may qualify to self-isolate in a hotel, free of charge, for up to 14 days if you do not have a safe place to self-isolate.” Those who wished to book a hotel room through the Program could either call a phone number or use an online hotel booking platform.
DANIEL defrauded the Program in at least two respects. First, she secured free Program hotel rooms for herself by falsely claiming to be a healthcare worker — specifically, a respiratory therapist. Second, she sold at least approximately 144 nights’ worth of fraudulently obtained hotel rooms to customers who were ineligible for the Program. In connection with this scheme, DANIEL used Facebook to advertise the sale of Program hotel rooms, to communicate directly with potential purchasers of Program hotel rooms, and to communicate with a co-defendant who worked at a call center that handled phone calls and certain reservations for the Program for several months in 2020. For instance, at one point, DANIEL wrote to her co-defendant, “We gotta relocate that bitch they keep asking for employee ID.”
Second, DANIEL operated a fraudulent document mill, through which DANIEL sold, among other things, fabricated COVID-19 test results, both positive and negative, in July and August 2021. These fabricated test results included the names of purported medical personnel, and contained misspellings (e.g., “postive”).
Third, between May 2021 and September 2021, DANIEL submitted fraudulent applications for COVID-19 loans, through both the PPP and EIDL programs, resulting in the disbursement of thousands of dollars in pandemic loan funding to DANIEL and a co-conspirator.
Fourth, between March 2020 and September 2021, DANIEL conspired to fraudulently obtain more than approximately $97,000 in unemployment benefits in New York State for both herself and others. She did so by making misrepresentations about herself, and by stealing the identities of more than 10 individuals and collecting unemployment benefits issued for the benefit of those individuals. In addition, DANIEL filed unsuccessful unemployment benefits applications in other states.
* * *
DANIEL, 28, of Brooklyn, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Under the terms of her plea agreement, DANIEL has agreed to forfeit $109,655 and to pay restitution of $401,206.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. DANIEL is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Kaplan on March 29, 2023, at 2:30 p.m.
DANIEL’s three co-defendants are currently scheduled to proceed to trial before Judge Kaplan on January 17, 2023.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding efforts of agents, investigators, and analysts from the New York City Department of Investigation, the New York Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General (“DOL-OIG”), and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. Mr. Williams also thanked the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Intelligence Analysts for their support and assistance in this investigation. He also expressed gratitude to the New York City Police Department, the New York State Department of Labor, and the DOL-OIG Atlanta Regional Office for their assistance.
This matter is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Neff is in charge of the prosecution.
Brookline Man Arrested for Unlawful Possession of MachinegunRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brookline man has been arrested for illegally possessing a machinegun.
Stewart Silvestri, 24, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of unlawful possession of a machinegun and was detained on Nov. 18, 2022 following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Judith G. Dein.
“The alleged conduct here is incredibly serious. Mr. Silvestri allegedly possessed eight unserialized and untraceable ghost guns. These dangerous weapons are nearly impossible to trace and directly contribute to the ongoing plague of gun violence we see across the nation and in our Commonwealth. Moreover, two of the firearms Mr. Silvestri allegedly possessed were machineguns capable of causing extreme harm, destruction and even mass casualties in the blink of an eye,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “Firearms, including ghost guns, are deadly weapons and those who illegally possess them are a potential threat to the safety of our neighborhoods. We will identify and prosecute these individuals and seek pre-trial detention whenever possible if it will result in keeping those that pose this type of danger off our streets.”
“The illegal possession of fully automatic “ghost guns” is a federal crime that ATF takes very seriously as it threatens the safety of our communities.” said James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Boston Field Division. “ATF will continue to work tirelessly with our local state and federal partners to investigate and arrest those who illegally possess firearms.”
According to the criminal complaint, on Oct. 15, 2022, law enforcement responded to multiple calls for an erratic driver on Route 95 in Rowley, Mass., who had pulled into a weigh station. Upon arriving at the weigh station, law enforcement approached the driver – Silvestri – who stated he had just come from an armory in New Hampshire. When asking for his license and registration, law enforcement observed Silvestri allegedly sitting on what appeared to be firearms. According to the charging document, a subsequent search of the vehicle recovered eight privately made firearms (also known as ghost guns), hundreds of rounds of ammunition and numerous firearm parts. Two of the firearms were fully automatic pistols, classified as machineguns.
The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
U.S. Attorney Rollins; ATF SAC Ferguson; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip C. Cheng of Rollins’ Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The details contained in the complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Boston Man Arrested for Distributing 7,000 Pills Containing Fentanyl and Fentanyl AnalogueRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man was arrested yesterday for a drug distribution offense involving fentanyl and a fentanyl analogue known as para-fluorofentanyl.
Melvin Cordero, 40, was indicted on one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and p-fluorofentanyl. Cordero was arrested yesterday morning and, following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston yesterday before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge M. Page Kelley, was detained pending a hearing set for Nov. 30, 2022.
According to the indictment, on or about March 15, 2022, Cordero distributed fentanyl and fentanyl analogue in the Boston area. At Cordero’s detention hearing on Nov. 22, 2022, it was specifically alleged that Cordero sold approximately 7,000 pills containing fentanyl and p-fluorofentanyl to a government agent. It was further alleged that Cordero attempted to sell a pill press to an undercover officer, and that officers seized the pill press after Cordero’s arrest.
The charge of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and p-fluorofentanyl provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the DEA New York Field Office, the Boston Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel R. Feldman of Rollins’ Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Birney man charged with murder of man on Northern Cheyenne Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Birney man suspected of killing another man near Lame Deer, on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, in June was arraigned today on murder and firearms charges, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Terence Arturo Limberhand, 31, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with first degree murder, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and possession of a stolen firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Limberhand faces mandatory life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release on the murder charge and a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. Judge Cavan ordered Limberhand detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleges in the indictment that on June 21 near Lame Deer, Limberhand unlawfully killed the victim, identified as John Doe, with malice aforethought and premeditation and that Limberhand possessed a firearm in furtherance of first-degree murder. The indictment further alleges that on June 28, Limberhand possessed a stolen firearm.
The FBI investigated the case.
An indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
PACER case reference. 22-129.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Billings man arraigned on child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings man indicted on child pornography charges appeared for arraignment today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Jeffrey Eugene Herbert, 34, pleaded not guilty to an indictment filed on Nov. 18 charging him with production of child pornography, distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography. If convicted of the most serious crime, Herbert faces a mandatory minimum 15 years to 30 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to a lifetime of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. Herbert was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in the indictment that in June in Billings, Herbert coerced a minor, identified as Jane Doe 1, to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the production of child pornography. The indictment further alleges that in April 2019, Herbert distributed child pornography and that in January 2008, he possessed child pornography.
An indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The FBI investigated the case.
PACER case reference. 22-133.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Belgrade woman sentenced to 16 months in prison for embezzling more than $800,000 from employerRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Belgrade woman who admitted to stealing more than $800,000 from her employer while she worked as an accountant and controller was sentenced today to 16 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
Renae Swanson, 59, pleaded guilty in May to wire fraud.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided. Judge Christensen also ordered Swanson to pay $804,413 restitution.
The government alleged in court documents that from 2012 until 2019, Swanson embezzled $804,413 while working as an accountant and controller for Williams Plumbing & Heating. Swanson fraudulently altered the payroll process, resulting in her increasing the amount of money she received from the business.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan G. Weldon prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI.
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Barnstable Man Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Barnstable man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to child exploitation offenses.
Atticus J. Bernard, 22, pleaded guilty on Nov. 18, 2022 to two counts of sexual exploitation of children and one count of possession of child pornography. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for Feb. 17, 2023. Bernard was arrested and indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2021. He has remained in federal custody.
On two separate occasions in November 2019 and October 2020, Bernard sexually exploited two minor girls under the age of five-years-old and who were known to him. Bernard documented the abuse and exploitation and possessed the child sexual abuse material on his cell phone. A search of Bernard’s phone in January 2021 revealed numerous photos of Bernard exploiting the minor victims on the reported dates.
The charges of sexual exploitation of children each provide for mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Andrew Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, Boston Field Office; and Barnstable Police Chief Matthew Sonnabend made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
Antisemitic Assailant Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Hate CrimesRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that SAADAH MASOUD pled guilty today to one count of participating in a conspiracy to commit hate crime acts in connection with MASOUD’s repeated physical attacks of Jewish victims in New York City between 2021 and 2022. MASOUD was first arrested in this case on June 14, 2022. MASOUD pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Saadah Masoud deliberately targeted three victims because of their religion and nation of origin. There is no place in this country for this offensive and hateful conduct. This Office is dedicated to seeking justice for victims of hate crimes and will aggressively prosecute those who spread hate by criminal means.”
According to the Indictment, other public filings, and statements made in court:
From at least in or about May 2021 through at least in or about April 2022, MASOUD and others conspired to commit hate crime acts in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere. In furtherance of the conspiracy, MASOUD assaulted at least three victims based upon the victims’ actual and perceived religion and national origin. Specifically, as part of his guilty plea, the defendant admitted to committing the following acts of violence that were motivated by the victims’ Jewish or Israeli identity or perceived identity:
- On or about April 20, 2022, in Manhattan, MASOUD assaulted a victim who was wearing an Israeli flag.
- On or about June 2, 2021, in Brooklyn, MASOUD and a co-conspirator assaulted a victim who was wearing clothing traditionally associated with the Jewish religion, including a yarmulke, while the victim was sitting outside the victim’s own home.
- On or about May 20, 2021, in Manhattan, MASOUD assaulted a victim who was wearing a Star of David necklace.
* * *
MASOUD, 29, of Staten Island, New York, pled guilty to one count of participating in a conspiracy to commit hate crime acts, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. MASOUD is scheduled to be sentenced on March 3, 2023, by U.S. District Judge Denise Cote.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Police Department’s Hate Crime Task Force and the Special Agents of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights Unit in the Criminal Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsey Keenan and Mitzi Steiner are charge of the prosecution.
Monday 21 November 2022
메릭 갈랜드 미 법무부 장관은 영어 미숙자들이 보다 쉽게 정부 서비스를 접할 수 있도록 개선하는 노력을 각 기관에 요청하였습니다Read the Press Release
주: 본 보도 자료는 여러 언어로 번역되었습니다. 아래 첨부물을 참고하십시오.
미 연방법무부는 각 기관들로 하여금 영어능력이 미숙한 (LEP) 사람들이 보다 쉽게 서비스를 접하도록 하는 각종 언어장벽 완화 노력과 규정들을 재검토 해 달라는 요청공문을 오늘 보내었습니다.
메릭 갈랜드 법무부 장관은 “우리나라의 모든 사람들은 무슨 언어를 쓰는지에 불구하고 연방기관이 운영하거나 지원하는 프로그램과 활동에 실제적으로 접하여 사용할 수있는 자격을 가진다”라며 “법무부는 개개인이 공공 서비스 이용할 때, 경제, 사회 및 시민생활 참여면에서 언어장벽이 개인들에게 완전한 기회를 제공하지 못하는 문제를 개선하도록 연방 파트너들과 함께 맞서 해결해 나갈 것”이라고 약속했습니다.
이 각서는 행정명령 13166, 즉 “영어 미숙자들에 대한 서비스 접근 개선 방침”에 근거하여 각 연방기관들이 언어 장벽 완화를 위한 관련 제도 개선을 노력함에 있어, 어떻게 개선하고, 현대화하며, 이를 시행하는가 하는 행동 방침을 제시합니다. 이 각서가 설명하듯 미 법무부 민권국은 사법접근성보장국 사무실의 지원을 받아 (1) 각 기관들이 그들의 언어 접근 정책과 계획에 추가적인 검토가 필요할른지, (2) 각 기관들이 연방 자원, 프로그램 및 서비스들에 대한 정보를 발표할 때 영어 미숙자들에게도 효율적으로 전달하고 있는지, (3) 1964년 공민권법 제6장의 요건과 그 법령 시행에 따라 실질적인 언어 접근성을 제공해야 하는 의무에 대한 일환으로 각 기관들이 연방 경제보조 수령자들을 위한 지침의 갱신 또는 수정을 고려하였는지, 그리고 (4) 각 기관들이 영어 미숙자들도 쉽게 사용할 수 있도록 디지털 통신매체를 조정할 수 있는지 등을 파악하는 공동노력에 앞장설 것입니다.
이 각서는 법무부의 2022년 – 2026년도 전략적 계획에서 언어 장애 완화을 위한 노력을 확대하려는 데에 새로운 초점을 두고 있는 점을 포함하여, 영어 미숙자들을 돕고자 하는 기존의 노력을 더욱 진전시킵니다. 메릭 갈랜드 법무부 장관은 2022년 5월에 아나 폴라 노게즈 머카도 씨를 사법접근성보장국 내의 언어접근성 조정관으로 임명하여 본 부서가 솔선수범하고 있음을 보여주도록 하였습니다. 이 후 사법접근성보장국은 언어 접근팀을 확장하였고 부서의 언어 접근성 실무그룹을 통해 기술지원 및 연수를 많은 조직 부서에 제공함으로서 모든이의 언어 접근성 향상을 끊임없이 추구하고 있습니다. 민권국은 연방법의 지침에 따라 www.LEP.gov 웹사이트를 지속적으로 운영하고 있는데 이를 통하여 영어 미숙자들에게 언어지원 서비스를 확장, 향상하는 데 도움되는 각종 자원과 정보를 제공하고 있습니다.
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Memorandum
司法部长梅里克·加兰发布一份备忘录以改善英语能力有限人士获得服务的机会Read the Press Release
注：本新闻稿被翻译成多种语言，请参阅以下附件。
司法部今天发布一份备忘录，要求联邦机构审查其提供的语言支援操作和政策，以便加强联邦政府与英语能力有限人士的接触。
“所有在这个国家的人，无论他们讲什么语言，都应该获得参与联邦机构开展或支持的计划和活动的实质机会。”司法部长梅里克·加兰 (Merrick B. Garland) 表示，“司法部致力于与我们的联邦伙伴合作，解决政府服务中的语言障碍问题，这些语言障碍剥夺了个人完全参与经济、社会和公民生活的机会。”
根据行政令13166号《改善英语能力有限人士获得服务的机会》，该备忘录概述了联邦机构改进、现代化和履行其语言支援职责的行动方案。如备忘录所述，在司法支援办公室的协助下，民权司将带头开展协作工作以确定：(1) 各机构能否进一步更新其语言支援政策和计划；(2) 各机构能否有效地把有关联邦资源、计划和服务的信息发送到英语能力有限人士；(3) 各机构能否就1964年《民权法》第六章及其实施条例规定下有关提供实质性语言协助的职责，而考虑更新或修改其对联邦财政援助受益人的指引；和(4) 各机构能否调整其数字通讯以便开放予英语能力有限人士。
该备忘录是建立于司法部现有与英语能力有限人士接触的工作上，其中包括司法部 2022-2026年战略计划中对扩大获取语言支援的新重点。2022年5月，司法部长加兰任命安娜·保拉·诺格斯·梅尔卡多 (Ana Paula Noguez Mercado) 为司法支援办公室的司法部语言支援协调员，确保司法部能以身作则。此后，司法支援办公室更扩大了其语言支援团队，并带领司法部的语言支援工作组，在各部门继续改善对所有人士的语言支援的同时，亦提供了跨部门的技术协助和培训。民权司会依从联邦法继续维护 www.LEP.gov网站以提供资源和信息帮助扩大和改善对英语能力有限人士的语言支援服务。
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Memorandum
司法部長梅裏克·加蘭發佈一份備忘錄以改善英语能力有限人士獲得服務的機會Read the Press Release
注：本新聞稿已翻譯成多種語言，請參閲以下附件。
司法部今天發佈一份備忘錄，要求聯邦機構審查其提供的語言支援操作和政策，以便加強聯邦政府與英語能力有限人士的接觸。
“所有在這個國家的人，無論他們講甚麼語言，都應該獲得參與聯邦機構開展或支持的計劃和活動的實質機會。”司法部長梅裏克·加蘭 (Merrick B. Garland) 表示，“司法部致力於與我們的聯邦夥伴合作，解決政府服務中的語言障礙問題，這些語言障礙剝奪了個人完全參與經濟、社會和公民生活的機會。”
根據行政令13166號 《改善英語能力有限人士獲得服務的機會》，該備忘錄概述了聯邦機構改進、現代化和履行其語言支援職責的行動方案。如備忘錄所述，在司法支援辦公室的協助下，民權司將帶頭開展協作工作以確定：(1) 各機構能否進一步更新其語言支援政策和計劃；(2) 各機構能否有效地把有關聯邦資源、計劃和服務的信息發送到英語能力有限人士； (3) 各機構能否就1964年《民權法》第六章及其實施條例規定下有關提供實質性語言協助的職責，而考慮更新或修改其對聯邦財政援助受益人的指引；和(4) 各機構能否調整其數字通訊以便開放予英語能力有限人士。
該備忘錄是建立於司法部現有與英語能力有限人士接觸的工作上，其中包括司法部 2022-2026年戰略計劃中對擴大獲取語言支援的新重點。2022年5月，司法部長加蘭任命安娜·保拉·諾格斯·梅爾卡多 (Ana Paula Noguez Mercado) 為司法支援辦公室的司法部語言支援協調員，確保司法部能以身作則。此後，司法支援辦公室更擴大了其語言支援團隊，並帶領司法部的語言支援工作組，在各部門繼續改善對所有人士的語言支援的同時，亦提供了跨部門的技術協助和培訓。民權司會依從聯邦法繼續維護 www.LEP.gov 網站以提供資源和信息幫助擴大和改善對英語能力有限人士的語言支援服務。
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Memorandum
وزير العدل ميريك غارلاند يصدر مذكرة تدعو لتحسين الوصول إلى الخدمات للأفراد محدودي الكفاءة في اللغة الانجليزيةRead the Press Release
ملاحظة: تمت ترجمة هذا البيان الصحفي إلى لغات مختلفة. راجع المرفقات أدناه.
أصدرت وزارة العدل الأمريكية اليوم مذكرة تطلب من الوكالات الفيدرالية مراجعة ممارساتها وسياساتها الخاصة بإتاحة الوصول إلى مُساعدات لغوية، وذلك لتعزيز تعامل الحكومة الفيدرالية مع الأفراد ذوي القدرات المحدودة في اللغة الإنجليزية .
قال وزير العدل ميريك ب. غارلند: "كل الناس في هذا البلد، بغض النظر عن اللغة التي يتحدثون بها، يستحقون فرصًا حقيقيةً للوصول إلى البرامج والأنشطة التي تديرها أو تدعمها الوكالات الفيدرالية". وأضاف الوزير: "إنّ وزارة العدل ملتزمة بالعمل مع شركائنا الفيدراليين لمواجهة الحواجز اللغوية في الخدمات الحكومية والتي من شأنها حرمان الأفراد من فرص كاملة للاشتراك في الحياة الاقتصادية والاجتماعية والمدنية."
وتحدد هذه المذكرة مسار عمل الوكالات الفيدرالية لتحسين وتحديث وتنفيذ مسؤولياتها فيما يتعلق بإتاحة الوصول إلى مُساعدات لغوية بموجب الأمر التنفيذي 13166، "تحسين فرص الوصول إلى الخدمات للأشخاص محدودي الكفاءة في اللغة الإنجليزية." وكما ورد في المذكرة، ستقود شعبة الحقوق المدنية، بمساعدة من مكتب الوصول إلى العدالة، مجهودا مشتركا لتحديد: (1) ما إذا كان بإمكان الوكالات مواصلة تحديث سياساتها وخططها المتعلقة بإتاحة الوصول إلى مُساعدات لغوية؛ (2) ما إذا كانت الوكالات تصل بشكل فعال إلى الأفراد ذوي الكفاءة المحدودة في اللغة الإنجليزية عند نشر المعلومات عن الموارد والبرامج والخدمات الفيدرالية؛(3) ما إذا كانت الوكالات قد نظرت في شأن إدخال تحديثات أو تعديلات على التوجيهات المقدمة إلى الجهات المتلقية للمساعدة المالية الفيدرالية فيما يتعلق بالتزاماتها بتوفير فرص حقيقية للوصول إلى مُساعدات لغوية، بموجب شروط الباب السادس من قانون الحقوق المدنية لعام 1964 ولوائحه التنفيذية؛ و(4) ما إذا كانت الوكالات قادرة على تكييف اتصالاتها الرقمية للترحيب بالأفراد ذوي الكفاءة المحدودة في اللغة الإنجليزية.
وتستند هذه المذكرة إلى الجهود المبذولة من قِبَلِ وزارة العدل للتعامل مع الأفراد محدودي الكفاءة في اللغة الإنجليزية، بما في ذلك التركيز الجديد على توسيع نطاق تسهيل الوصول إلى مُساعدات لغوية، في إطار المخطط الاستراتيجي للوزارة للفترة 2022-2026. وفي مايو 2022، عين وزير العدل غارلاند السيدة آنا باولا نوغيز ميركادو كمُنسّقة في مجال إتاحة الوصول إلى مُساعدات لغوية لدى مكتب الوصول إلى العدالة، في حرص على أن تكون الوزارة نموذجا يُحتذى به. وقد قام مكتب الوصول إلى العدالة منذ ذلك الحين بتوسيع نطاق فريق إتاحة الوصول إلى مُساعدات لغوية التابع له، كما أنه يقود فريق العمل المعني بإتاحة الوصول إلى مُساعدات لغوية التابع للوزارة لتقديم المساعدة التقنية والتدريب للمكوِّنات التي تواصل تحسين وصول الجميع إلى المُساعدات اللغوية. وتُواصل شعبة الحقوق المدنية إدارة الموقع www.lep.gov الذي يوفر الموارد والمعلومات للمساعدة في توسيع وتحسين خدمات المساعدة اللغوية للأفراد محدودي الكفاءة في اللغة الإنجليزية ، وفقا للقانون الفيدرالي.
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Wheeling man admits to drug chargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Ronald Shaw, of Wheeling, West Virginia, has admitted to distributing methamphetamine, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Shaw, also known as “Fuzz,” 51, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine within 1000 feet of a Protected Location.” Shaw admitted to having more than 50 grams of methamphetamine near Overbrook Playground in Ohio County in October 2022.
Shaw faces at least five years and up to 80 years in prison and a fine of up to $10 million. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn M. Adkins is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
Waterloo Felon Sent Back to Federal Prison for Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
A Waterloo man who possessed a firearm less than a year after he was released from federal prison for possessing a firearm illegally was sentenced today to more than two additional years in federal prison. Dereon Equwan Davenport, also known as Dereon Galloway, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 18, 2022 guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.
At Davenport’s guilty plea hearing and other hearings in his cases, Davenport admitted that he was convicted in U.S. District Court of possession of a firearm by a drug user in 2019. The district court sentenced Davenport to 21 months’ imprisonment for that crime, and the U.S. Bureau of Prisons released Davenport from custody in December 2020. In July 2021, while Davenport was on supervised release with the U.S. Probation Office for his 2019 firearms crime, Davenport was arrested during a traffic stop in Waterloo and a loaded, chambered firearm was found in a pocket in his pants. In November 2021, Davenport was arrested in Cedar Falls and later convicted of harassing a public official and driving while under suspension. While on supervised release, Davenport also used controlled substances multiple times, failed to undergo required drug testing and treatment, failed to maintain employment, and did not notify the probation office of his whereabouts.
Davenport was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Davenport was sentenced to 33 months’ imprisonment, which consists of 21 months of imprisonment for the new firearms conviction and a consecutive 12 months of imprisonment for violating the terms of his supervised release in his 2019 firearms case. Davenport must also serve a new three-year term of supervised release after the prison term imposed in the new case. There is no parole in the federal system.
Davenport is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek and investigated by the Waterloo Police Department.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file numbers are 22-CR-2005 and 18-CR-2055.
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U.S. Postal Carrier and Co-Conspirator Are Charged for Extensive Mail Theft SchemeRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Two criminal indictments were unsealed in federal court today following the arrest of a U.S. Postal Carrier and a co-conspirator for their involvement in an extensive mail theft scheme, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which oversees Charlotte, Jeff Krafels, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General (USPS-OIG) for the Mid-Atlantic Area Field Office (MAAFO), which oversees Charlotte, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
Kiara Padgett, 28, of Waxhaw, N.C., is charged with one count of bank fraud conspiracy and 10 counts of mail theft by a postal employee. A separate indictment charges Terrell Alexander Hager Jr., 23, of Charlotte, with one count of bank fraud conspiracy and seven counts of possession of stolen mail.
According to allegations contained in Padgett’s indictment, Padgett was employed by the U.S. Postal Service as a mail carrier with a postal route in West Charlotte. From August 2021 to November 2022, Padgett allegedly used her position as a postal carrier to steal incoming and outgoing checks of businesses and individuals, which she then sold to other individuals located in Charlotte and Maryland. The indictment alleges that the total face value of the checks Padgett stole was more than $8.3 million. The indictment further alleges that between August 2021 and June 2022, Padgett received payments for her role in the scheme totaling at least $13,698.
The indictment filed against Hager alleges that, between August 2021 and November 2022, Hager and his co-conspirators obtained stolen checks from Padgett. The co-conspirators allegedly deposited the stolen checks into bank accounts Hager and others controlled, and then made cash withdrawals before the financial institutions detected the fraud. Over the course of the scheme, Hager and his co-conspirators allegedly deposited more than $27,000 in stolen checks and money orders. Hager also allegedly posted online for sale over 400 stolen checks totaling over $7.3 million. The checks posted by Hager were allegedly stolen from Padgett’s postal route in West Charlotte. According to today’s court proceedings, Hager was on probation with the state of North Carolina when he committed the fraud.
Padgett was released on bond following her court hearing. If convicted, Padgett faces a maximum prison term of 30 years and a $1 million fine for the bank fraud conspiracy charge, and five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each of the 10 counts of theft of mail by a postal employee.
Hager remains in federal custody. If convicted, he is facing a maximum prison term of 30 years and a $1 million fine for the charge of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each of the seven charges of possession of stolen mail.
The details contained in this indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The USPIS, USPS-OIG, and CMPD investigated the case. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny G. Sugar of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte.